Achi no Omi

• early fifth century

Foreigner of the ancient period who settled in Japan. Achi no Omi, who settled in Japan in the time of Emperor Ôjin (third century), who said to have been the great grandson of Emperor Ling (A.D. 168-188) of the Later Han dynasty of China. Since he came to Japan at a time when the ruler of the Korean Kingdom of Paekche was on close terms with Emperor Ôjin, it has been suggested that he was brought by Japanese generals on their return from the Korean peninsula.

He is said to have brought with him his family and followers and to have taken charge of the composition and handling of documents at the Japanese court. He is also supposed to have been sent on a mission to China and to have brought back four women who were skilled at weaving. He is representative of the persons who introduced various skills from Korea and China to the court of Emperor Ôjin. The family known as Yamato no Ayauji, which looked to him as their ancestor, later became the hereditary handlers of documents at the Yamato court.